LOS ANGELES - California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris filed a civil lawsuit against BP West Coast Products, BP Products North America Inc. and Atlantic Richfield Co. last week, alleging they failed to properly inspect and maintain underground storage tanks (UST) at more than 780 gas stations in California, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"Safe storage of gasoline is not only common sense, it is essential to protecting the integrity of California??s groundwater resources," Harris said. "California??s hazardous waste laws safeguard public health and this lawsuit ensures proper maintenance of the tanks that store fuel beneath California??s communities."

The lawsuit alleges the violations have occurred since October of 2006 and that the companies tampered with or disabled leak detection devices. It also alleges they improperly handled and disposed of hazardous waste and materials associated with USTs at their California stations.

BP spokesman Scott Dean acknowledged that California has been pursuing UST litigation for several years.

"BP, like the companies before it, has been in negotiations with the Attorney General??s office in an attempt to settle a number of alleged violations relating to underground storage tanks and hazardous waste management at retail sites," he said, noting that BP takes compliance issues seriously.

"The majority of these alleged incidents are procedural violations concerning documentation," Dean continued, adding. "A small number of the alleged violations relate to the monitoring of tanks. None of the alleged violations posed any harm to human health or the environment."